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Phillip Lai

Over the past three decades, Phillip Lai has developed a sculptural language which explores approaches to the ubiquitous materials and experiences that derive from a techno-industrial culture – such as that of mass production, functionality, the mechanistic, automation, ergonomics, and infrastructure. Its basis refers to our psychological interactions in this culture, as well as an intermingling with it. Transfers or retentions of energy are envisioned, through materials and objects that often suggest the support of basic daily functions, needs and the sustaining of human life. Containers; plates, sinks, bowls, or barrels – the receptacles that typically carry raw materials or food, often appear alongside other motifs, such as cloth - in the form of jute, clothing, tarpaulin - layers utilised to provide protection, shelter or warmth. Across all of Lai’s work, he excavates for something deeper and beyond the apparent inertia of objects. This excavation, as though to glimpse more clearly the underlying interaction of things, seems to reach for the quietest, most remote trace of figuration that may belie their abstraction.

Phillip Lai was born in Kuala Lumpur in 1969 and moved to London in 1979, where he continues to live and work. He holds both BA and MA Fine Art degrees from Chelsea School of Art & Design, completing his studies in 1994. Lai has been a lecturer at Goldsmiths, University of London since 2001. In 1997, he presented his first solo exhibition at The Showroom, London. His work has been the subject of subsequent solo exhibitions at Kiang Malingue, Hong Kong (2023); Modern Art, London (2021); Galleria Franco Noero, Turin (2019); Edouard Malingue Gallery, Hong Kong (2018); Camden Art Centre, London (2014); and Transmission Gallery, Glasgow (2009). Lai has participated in group exhibitions at Mead Gallery, Warwick Arts Centre (2023); Goldsmiths Centre for Contemporary Art, London (2022); Modern Art, London (2021); Nottingham Contemporary (2014); Tate Modern, London (2010); Artists Space, New York (2006); CCA, Glasgow (2005); MoMA, New York (1998); and the Institute of Contemporary Arts, London (1994). In March 2018, he was shortlisted for the Hepworth Prize for Sculpture, and from 2017-2019 was awarded the Sculpture Fellowship at the Kenneth Armitage Foundation, London. His works are held in collections including the Arts Council Collection, London; Museo Jumex, Mexico City; Nomas Foundation, Rome; Sifang Art Museum, Nanjing; and Tate, London.

Press
Biography
Hepworth Prize for Sculpture, Hepworth Wakefield, 2018
Untitled, 2023
galvanised steel and steel mesh, stainless steel, cast epoxy resin, 3D printed nylon, electronics, programmed light and sound, 175.7 x 342.2 x 158.3 cm, 69 1/8 x 134 3/4 x 62 3/8 in
1/5
Guest loves host in a way like no other, 2016
aluminium, 87.5 x 330 x 120 cm, 34 1/2 x 129 7/8 x 47 1/4 in
1/4
Drunken Sailor, 2021
cast polyurethane resin and epoxy fibreglass, 59.5 x 245 x 159 cm, 23 3/8 x 96 1/2 x 62 5/8 ins
1/4
Four Cautions, 2023
powder-coated steel, 201.3 x 241 x 241 cm, 79 1/4 x 94 7/8 x 94 7/8 in
1/4
Untitled, 2018
polyester resin fibreglass, fabric, 54 x 239 x 126.5 cm, 21 1/4 x 94 1/8 x 49 3/4 ii
1/3
Untitled, 2016
wood, plywood, light bulbs, lamp holders, paint, 122 x 244 x 18 cm, 48 1/8 x 96 1/8 x 7 1/8 in
1/3
Untitled, 2021
cast pewter, aluminium, polypropylene fabric, 8 x 236 x 158 cm, 3 1/8 x 92 7/8 x 62 1/4 in
1/3
Untitled, 2017
cast polyurethane rubber, cast polyurethane resin, concrete, metal fixings, 136 x 154 x 30 cm, 53 1/2 x 60 5/8 x 11 3/4 in
1/3
Untitled, 2021
cast pewter, 23.5 x 21 x 4.5 cm, 9 1/4 x 8 1/4 x 1 3/4 in
1/3
The Empties, 2018
cast polyurethane, concrete, laminated plywood, timber, lamp holders, bulbs 35 x 333 x 60 cm 13 3/4 x 131 1/8 x 23 5/8 in
1/3
Untitled, 2016
aluminium, paint, 12.5 x 122 x 60.5 cm, 4 7/8 x 48 1/8 x 23 7/8 in
1/3
Untitled, 2021
cast polyurethane resin, metal, 44 x 217 x 23 cm, 17 3/8 x 85 3/8 x 9 1/8 in
1/3
Untitled, 2016
cast polyurethane resin, concrete PVC foam, plywood aluminium, 85 x 62 x 64 cm, 33 1/2 x 24 3/8 x 25 1/4 in
1/3
Blue Food, 2021
cast pigmented concrete, 9.5 x 286 x 64 cm, 3 3/4 x 112 5/8 x 25 1/4 in
1/3
Untitled, 2018
cast polyurethane, rice, 36.5 x 36.5 x 20 cm, 14 3/8 x 14 3/8 x 7 7/8 in
1/3
Untitled, 2011
dyed silk, dyed cotton, steel, reclaimed wood, transit blankets, 31 x 157 x 153 cm, 12 1/4 x 61 3/4 x 60 1/4 in
1/2
This seems to be a mistake, 2012
reinforced concrete, soot, 117 x 258 cm, 46 1/8 x 101 5/8 in
1/3
Untitled, 2011
wood, varnish, lamp, concrete, leather shoes, cooking pots, 217 x 81 x 34 cm, 85 3/8 x 31 7/8 x 13 3/8 in
1/3
Certain pressures, 2014
aluminium, rubber, acrylic, 30 x 289 x 139.5 cm, 11 3/4 x 113 3/4 x 54 7/8 in
1/4
Untitled (12 tyre rims blue), 2021
tyre parts, blue polypropylene rope, eyebolt, shackle, carbine, 108 x 56 x 25 cm, 42 1/2 x 22 1/8 x 9 7/8 in
Besides, Camden Art Centre, 2014
Untitled, 2011

Press

Art Review1 May 2018
Guardian1 July 2016
Kilimanjaro1 January 2012
Art Review1 March 2011
Artforum1 February 2012
Mousse1 February 2009
MAP1 April 2009

Biography

Phillip Lai

Born in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 1969 Lives and works in London

Education

1993-94
MA Fine Art
Chelsea College of Art & Design, London
1990-93
BA Fine Art, Sculpture
Chelsea College of Art & Design, London
1988-89
Foundation Course
Middlesex Polytechnic, London

Solo Exhibitions

2023
For CautionKiang Malingue, Hong Kong, China
2021
Drunken Sailor
Modern Art, London
2019
Galleria Franco Noero
Turin, Italy
2018
In the half life
Edouard Malingue Gallery, Hong Kong, China
2016
Modern Art
London
2014
BesidesCamden Arts Centre, London
2012
Visitor
Galleria Franco Noero, Turin, Italy
Modern Art
London
2009
Modern Art
London
Introduction and Jargon
Transmission Gallery, Glasgow
2008
Open Container
Galerie Giti Nourbakhsch, Berlin, Germany
2007
A Metal Bar Fell On Someone’s Head Or Something
Galleria Franco Noero, Turin, Italy
Free to Meet For Coffee Sometime Soon
Modern Art, London
2000
His Divine Grace
Modern Art, London
1997
Phillip LaiThe Showroom, London, commissioned by The Showroom in collaboration with inIVA

Selected Group Exhibitions

2024
Transposition 1: Observing the Walking Patterns
Whistle, Seoul, Korea (forthcoming)
Modern Art
London
2023
Modern Art
Paris, France
Phantom SculptureMead Gallery, Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry
Ubiquitous no.14
Tube Gallery, Palma, Spain
2022
Water Being Washed Away, curated by Alessandro Rabottini
Galerie Hubert Winter, Vienna, Austria
SSSSSSSSSCULPTURESQUEKiang Malingue Gallery, Hong Kong, China
TestamentGoldsmiths Centre for Contemporary Art, London
2021
L’acquaGalleria Franco Noero, Turin, Italy
Group Show
Modern Art, London
2019
Yona Lee, Phillip Lai, Hany Armanious
Fine Arts, Sydney, Australia
2018
The Hepworth Prize for SculptureThe Hepworth Wakefield, Wakefield
Spinning, with Peter Robinson
Hopkinson Mossman, Auckland, New Zealand
Fences & Windows
Modern Art, London
2016
Theories of Modern Art
Modern Art, London
Can I Step on It?
Galleria Franco Noero, Turin, Italy
When Did Intimacy Begin Width, curated by Torey Thornton
Jeffrey Stark, New York, NY, USA
2015
An Intervention
John Hansard Gallery, Southampton University, Southampton
2014
Interior
Modern Art, London
Somewhat AbstractNottingham Contemporary, Nottingham
2913
In the wake of a view, with Jeremiah Day
Appartement Elisa Platteau, Brussels, Belgium
2013
Sculptures by Thomas Schütte and Phillip Lai
Faggionato Fine Arts, London
2012
London Twelve
City Gallery Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
2008
Seven Times Two or Three
Cubitt, London
2007
In The Poem About Love You Don't Write The Word Love
Overgaden, Institute for Samtidskunst, Copenhagen, Denmark, travelled to: Midway Contemporary Art, Minneapolis, MN, USA
2006
In The Poem About Love You Don't Write The Word Love
Artists Space, New York, NY, USA
John Frumism, with Mike Nelson and Paul Thek
Hotel, London
2005
In The Poem About Love You Don't Write The Word Love
CCA, Glasgow, Scotland
2004
Uscita Pistoia
SpazioA, Pistoia, Italy
Strange Weather
Modern Art, London
Tag Team Experiment
two-person relay exhibition, alternative project space, Edinburgh, Scotland
2002
We Want Out
CityLights Project, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
2000
Senselessness-lessness
Tramway, Glasgow
Death Race 2000
Threadwaxing Space, New York, NY, USA
1999
Cities on the Move
Hayward Gallery, London
Black Box
continued screenings, venues including: Angel Row, Nottingham; Artezium, Luton
New Video from Great Britain
British Council tour to South America, travelled to: Sala Mendoza, Caracas, Venezuela; Museo Carillo Gil, Mexico City, Mexico
1998
Black Box
commissioned by Film & Video Umbrella, Open Eye, Liverpool (ISEA), travelled to: Lift (Pandæmonium festival), London; Aspex, Portsmouth; ARC, Stockton-on-Tees
New Video from Great Britain
Museum of Modern Art, New York, NY, USA
Bed and Workshop
alternative space, Rennes, France
Grey Area
Bonnington Gallery, Nottingham
1996
Deep Signal
Gasworks, London
Deep Signal
Collective Gallery, Edinburgh
Off Camp/On Base
Tokyo Big Sight Exhibition Centre, Japan, Tokyo
I beg to differ
Milch, London
Update 96
The Old Turbine Hall, Copenhagen, Denmark
1995
Fresh
continued screenings venues including: Video Positive 95, Liverpool; Tate, London
1994
The Institute of Cultural Anxiety
Institute of Contemporary Arts, London
Weirdos
SAGA Basement, Copenhagen, Denmark
Fresh
Film & Video Umbrella touring programme, travelled to: Institute of Contemporary Arts, London; CCA, Glasgow, Scotland; Ikon Gallery, Birmingham
Miniatures
The Agency, London
No Vacancies
alternative venue, Frankfurt, Germany

Selected Collections

Arts Council
London
Camden Arts Centre
London
Nomas Foundation
Rome, Italy
Sifang Art Museum
Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
Tate
London